Finding Her Wings.

Bailey was now a master of ground poles.  The next step was something I had been dreaming about from the moment I knew she would be mine.

Jumping.

My trainer and I set up a lesson at the end of August.  I warmed up Bailey just as I had done so many times before and worked on flat work for the beginning of the ride.  Then my trainer set up a small box, Bailey’s first solid obstacle.

Some horses become insecure about where to put their feet when they see their first real fence.  It was imperative that I remain confident and encourage Bailey to keep moving forward.  As we trotted to the base of the green boxes, my heart raced as Bailey found her wings.

She soared.

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Bailey jumping a solid obstacle in August 2017.

Bailey tossed her head in amusement just as she had done when she encountered ground rails, and I was thrilled.  I knew in that moment that Bailey enjoyed jumping as much as I did.

Ashley and I decided that one jump was enough for the day and I cooled Bailey down.  It was a single obstacle, a course of fences consists of 8 or more, but it was still a major milestone for a young horse.

 

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